On the eve of the 2024/25 A-League Women's season, Front Page Football caught up with Adelaide United head coach Adrian Stenta as he plots to raise his underperforming side from the foot of the competition.
Adrian Stenta often cut a frustrated figure during the 2023/24 A-League Women's season. (Image: Ben Blaess/BDb.media)
Adelaide United's 2023/24 season does not make for pretty reading. Adrian Stenta's side finished 12th, scoring a competition-low 21 goals while conceding more than any other team, allowing 56 goals in 22 games.
While feeling like his side gave a good account of itself in the middle of the park in the previous A-League Women campaign, Stenta revealed that the off-season focus has been on becoming a more resilient, decisive side in both boxes.
"We conceded far too many goals, and we often conceded goals in quick succession in matches, so we identified a bit of a lack of resilience at times in matches. We also had trouble scoring goals. If you are having trouble keeping them out and having trouble putting them in, you're not going to win a lot of matches," he told Front Page Football.
"We have reflected on that and had a thorough off-season trying to plan to make sure that that doesn't occur again, and our focus is really on moving forward."
On the attacking front, the Reds have lost Young Matilda Emilia Murray to Melbourne City after an injury-ridden campaign.
That blow was softened with the club re-uniting the attacking duo that fired them to their first-ever Finals Series appearance in the 2021/22 season, retaining Chelsie Dawber and convincing Fiona Worts, who won the Julie Dolan Medal during her time in Adelaide, to return to South Australia after one season with Sydney FC.
"We saw her (Worts) a couple of times when we were over in Sydney and when she came back here, so we've just been in constant communication, and it is just one of those things where sometimes the pieces fall in place, and an opportunity came up, and it was an opportunity that both parties were interested in pursuing," Stenta shared on Worts' return.
"We are really glad to have her back because we feel like, in Australia anyway, Adelaide is her home club."
The Reds were hit by another significant exit when defensive stalwart Maruschka Waldus signed for Feyenoord, but again, the club looked to the 2021/22 side for a solution. This time, Matilda McNamara, Waldus' former partner in the heart of defence, was tempted to come home after her time in Denmark, in a move that shapes as one of the coups of the off-season.
At only 25 years old, McNamara may only be considered a veteran in a few squads. Yet, with Adelaide United not having a player over 28, her playing experience will be invaluable, especially for defensive partner Ella Tonkin, who is touted as a future Matilda in her own right.
Stenta sees players like Worts and McNamara returning as a vote of confidence for the club, which he believes is pretty close to making an impact on the rest of the competition.
"It would be really easy for players to look at our season last year, where we finished and how we went, and just think that there's something not quite right in Adelaide, or toxic potentially, but we don't feel that way.
"We feel like we're not that far off. We feel we've got a really good culture at the club, and we're a club that wants to put the individual first, whether that is a staff member or a player; we are keen to provide pathways for players to achieve whatever it is they want to achieve in football."
Stenta has seen both highs and lows across his seven years at Adelaide United, but being the only coach to guide the Reds to an A-League Women's Finals Series, he knows what success looks like. He is confident that he can drive his side back up the ladder.
"I don't want to be in this role if I don't feel like I can continue to take the team forward. I feel like I can and that we've got a good staff around us to help with that as well," he said.
"I feel like we've got a good mix of the playing group to be able to do that as well. I am here because I think we can achieve something special this year; I am very passionate about the club and I love my job."
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The returns of McNamara and Worts have been complemented by the addition of fresh Visa signings in Erin Healy (forward), Lucía León (defender), and Abby Clarke (midfielder). They will not just add quality across the pitch, with Stenta sharing that the trio was also signed for their ambition.
"We tried to find young, ambitious players who still had things to prove in football and who wanted to use their time in Adelaide to be successful here but to also have some bigger things they wanted to achieve as well.
"We hope to provide a platform for those players to play really well and go on to bigger and better things once their time in Adelaide is finished."
On the pitch, while Adelaide United have had their usual preparations, Stenta was delighted to play an A-League Women's side in pre-season for the first time during his time spearheading the Reds' setup. His side beat Western United 2-0 in Mildura, with Football South Australia NTC products Abby Middleton and Miley Grigg notably scoring the goals.
Just like their male counterparts, Adelaide United's A-League Women's squad also adhere to Ernest Faber's guidance as Technical Director, with a game style designed to maximise territory and entertain the fans. After a disappointing season, though, Stenta understands that results must also follow.
The Reds begin their season this Saturday at ServiceFM Stadium when they take on Melbourne Victory at 5pm AEDT.
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